Ask Laura: Should I ask my kids before I post about them on social media?

Summertime means family vacation time, and that means our social media feeds are filled with an endless stream of adorable kids, sand-covered babies, and happy family moments.

We all love to share these highlights, right? And what could be the harm in that? After all, when my adorable son has an adorable moment, I love to capture it and share on social media. I add a caption that gives context and maybe a fitting emoji or two. As the “likes” pile up and the comments roll in, I feel good about keeping my family and friends updated on how my little one is growing up and having fun.

In social media circles, this is called sharenting -- and most parents do it. Though our children may not use social media for years, they have probably been on social media since birth. Literally.

Because of this, our followers may know our kids’ birthday, what they wore on the first day of school, their best friend’s name, favorite hangouts, favorite movies, songs, colors, and foods. This may not seem like a big deal when our kids are very young, but as they mature, become more self-aware, and become exposed to more technology, most kids will want to have a say in their online identity -- and that’s a good thing!

The age of when this shift occurs will vary by child, but once they reach upper elementary age, we recommend “huddling” with your child before you post pictures of them. Think of a huddle as a short, one-on-one conversation with your child to make sure you’re on the same team. In this case, it’s a huddle about why, where, and how you are sharing a particular photo of your child.

Give them the chance to approve the picture, caption, and social media channel. One mom told me that her daughter usually approves pictures posted to the mom’s Facebook account (since the daughter’s peers are not on Facebook), but often declines having her picture posted on the mom’s Instagram account. Makes sense, right?

For one -- parents and kids have different priorities and different perspectives. A picture that you might think is harmless may be downright mortifying to your child for a myriad of reasons that he or she can’t even express.

Also, think about it: A colleague or boss likely can’t Google your name and find pictures of you as a messy toddler or awkward teen. We won’t be able to say the same for our kids. So huddle before you share the next photo, rather than creating a permanent record that your child would rather not have out there.

Here are a few things you could cover:

Seventy-five percent of parents reportedly use social media, so sharenting is here to stay. Let’s make sure we maintain our kid’s privacy when we do it. That’s a win-win.